Readers: Dog policy is the pits

Animal Control put ban on pit bull adoptions

Nearly 150 people gave their thoughts on St. Johns County Animal Control's policy to ban adoptions of pit bulls, with all but roughly 20 of them against it.

The Record wrote of the county's pit bull policy in a Nov. 10 article and asked for the public's opinion. Passionate letters and e-mails have streamed in since then.

Animal Control is following a rule created by county staff. The policy bans adoptions of pit bulls and pit bull mixed breeds at Animal Control's pet center, located on Stratton Road off U.S. 1 north of International Golf Parkway. And, if the owner of a missing pit bull or pit mix does not claim his dog at the center after five days, the dog will be euthanized.

Unclaimed animals at the shelter become county property after five days, said Paul Studivant, Animal Control supervisor.

Pit bulls pose a risk of aggression, says the county, and Animal Control will not "expose our citizens to the potential for injury and/or death," states a county interoffice memo. Studivant said a third of the county's bite cases involve pit bulls.

A resident posted The Record article on Craigslist's pet section, igniting a flurry of responses to the paper. Most felt pit bulls are gentle dogs that are often abused and used for dog fights, which makes them aggressive.

The respondents said it is unfair for the county to stereotype the entire breed.

Amber Morris, of Vanderburgh County, Ind., wrote that her local animal shelter does background checks and home observations before putting pit bulls out for adoption.

"They do this because they truly do love animals and would much rather take some time and find good homes for these beautiful dogs instead of just killing them!" she said in an e-mail.

Cindy Parnell, of Middleburg, works with German Shepherd Rescue of Central Florida, and said in an e-mail that Animal Control should use a behavior consultant for pit bulls.

"What the county should be doing is requiring the adopter to have the dog enrolled in obedience classes throughout the dog's life with a certified dog trainer," Parnell wrote.

Some cheered the county's policy, such as John Erdelyi of Elkton.

"All pit bulls should be banned, if that cannot be done a million dollar insurance policy should be required (of their owners)," Erdelyi wrote in an e-mail. "That still won't justify a person being mauled!"

Studivant said the county isn't claiming all pit bulls are bad, but he's not willing to "take a chance with the public's safety."

"It's not that we take pleasure in singling out a breed," he said. "But we care about the public."

WHAT READERS SAID

The following are a sample of e-mails and letters The Record has received from the public. In roughly 150 responses about 20 supported the county's policy. Many of the comments came from pit bull and pit bull mixed breed owners.

"I am in agreement with the county's policy. ... a pit bull and pit bull mix got loose and ran over 2 miles into our yard ... and killed our beautiful Persian Toy cat ... Once on the loose, these dogs were deadly."

-Diane Grady-Klinge

"Why aren't we passing laws with real penalties for cruelty to animals? Why aren't the police enforcing the laws that are on the books? It is often cruel treatment that exacerbates violent reactions in animals."

-Linda Oakley

"To me, there is no better dog than a pit bull, hands down. ... They deserve a chance. They have no voice of their own, so we have to speak for them."

-Becca Martin, Berlin, Wisc.

"... I believe that a law was passed in Volusia and Duval (counties), making it illegal to stake your dog, in other words tie or chain an animal. This ... would most likely eliminate a lot of aggressive nature of these animals. ..."

-G.P. Baumgartner

"What's next on the county's list, Dobermans and (Rottweilers)?"

-Alan Freed

"I work at a low-cost vet clinic in Tallahassee and I see a ton of pit bulls. ... they assess each dog to determine whether or not it is adoptable. I don't believe any one breed is a threat."

-Cole

"We put people in jail for 30, 60 years or life for killing people, we feed them, give them a home and a warm place to sleep. How many people have been killed by people? So why don't we put them down after five days."

-Tamara Ward

"It was good to learn that (the county) took some action against the breed of dogs responsible for so many attacks on humans of all ages."

-Eva M. Doolittle

"Once a person signs a waiver that should be enough. People get killed in cars, but we still drive them."

-Dianne Frazier

"Yes, pit bulls are strong animals and some have been abused, neglected or trained to be aggressive. But the same can be said of German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Mastiffs, etc."

-Karen Wilson and Richard Slocum

"I am absolutely appalled. ... I have friends with young children and the ONLY dog they feel will be the safest around their kids are pit bulls and mixes."

-Adina Pollan

"These dogs deserve a chance. Don't let them die when they could have a good home."

-Cathy Moseberth

"If an owner is not responsible enough to keep up with whereabouts of their dog and does not check in with (Animal Control) after their dog had disappeared, then putting the dog down seems a safe thing to do. ... (But) do not let the responsible pet owners suffer for the responsible people who have (made a bad name for pit bulls)."

-Mary Lee Drake

"Bravo St. Johns County! Thank you for taking a stand for public safety."

-Mike Jarriel

"... I can agree that ANY dog showing signs of being used for fighting needs to be euthanized, however, I don't agree that the breed need be stereotyped and given a slanderous name."

-Jason Hughes

"You wouldn't kill a living person because of (their) anger issues would you?"

-Cindy Rodriguez

"I lived next door to people that had two (pit bulls). The dogs were constantly breaking their chains and chasing people down the street. Very unpredictable breed."

-Debbie Wyatt

"Mastiffs, boxers and other bulldog breeds can be mistaken for a pit bull mix. Will Animal Control give DNA testing these to poor animals before they are murdered?"

-Richard Webb

"To simply assume that every pit bull presents a threat is as irrational as saying that every African American is an excellent basketball player or every Jewish person is thrifty."

-H. Andreu

"I see and hear of so many cases where these animals pounced on people for no reason. ... I think it's wonderful -- and humane -- to euthanize pit bulls."

-Mary W. Somers

"It's all in how you raise 'em. That applies to any dog and to children as well."

-Gale Burnick

"The one question every one should be asking is should we ban (ourselves) from animals. Not banning the animals from us."

-Jennifer Hughes

"I have a pit bull mix... (and she was) abused and neglected. Now (she) is so gentle and special because of how I have raised her to be."

-Mark Gaskill

"I just hate when people automatically assume that all pits are dangerous because my pit is harmless and even gets scared when my roommate's chinchilla barks at him."

-Bethany Coates

"The excuse that 'my dog is friendly and docile' shouldn't be acceptable with this breed when we read every day of another pit bull attacking or killing a smaller dog on the beach or a chid playing in the backyard or the owner being killed suddenly without warning."